Investment casting

Abstract

Pre-molding of wax or similar sacrificial material over one or more cores facilitates a subsequent molding over a core assembly. Individual cores or groups thereof may be pre-molded in a wax body. One or more such wax bodies may be assembled with other bodies and/or other cores to facilitate a main wax molding of such assembly.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to investment casting. More particularly, the invention relates to the forming of core-containing patterns for investment forming investment casting molds. [0002] Investment casting is a commonly used technique for forming metallic components having complex geometries, especially hollow components, and is used in the fabrication of superalloy gas turbine engine components. [0003] Gas turbine engines are widely used in aircraft propulsion, electric power generation, ship propulsion, and pumps. In gas turbine engine applications, efficiency is a prime objective. Improved gas turbine engine efficiency can be obtained by operating at higher temperatures, however current operating temperatures in the turbine section exceed the melting points of the superalloy materials used in turbine components. Consequently, it is a general practice to provide air cooling. Cooling is typically provided by flowing relatively cool air from the comp...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] Another aspect of the invention involves a component for forming an investment casting pattern. A first wax material at least partially encases a first core. The first wax material includes means for guiding insertion of the first wax material and the first core into a pattern-forming die. The first wax material may include means for maintaining a target relative position between the first core and a second core.

[0012] Another aspect of the invention involves a die for forming an investment casting pattern. The die includes at least one means for registering at least one core to which molding material has been pre-applied. One or more surfaces define a molding material-receiving space. A passageway is provided for introducing molding material to the molding material-receiving space.

Problems solved by technology

Such cooling comes with an associated cost in engine efficiency.

The fine features may be difficult to manufacture and / or, once manufactured, may prove fragile.

Assembling the ceramic and refractory metal cores and maintaining their spatial relationship during wax overmolding presents numerous difficulties.

A failure to maintain such relationship can produce potentially unsatisfactory part internal features.

It may be difficult to assembly fine refractory metal cores to ceramic cores.

Once assembled, it may be difficult to maintain alignment.

The refractory metal cores may become damaged during handling or during assembly of the overmolding die.

Assuring proper die assembly and release of the injected pattern may require die complexity (e.g., a large number of separate die parts and separate pull directions to accommodate the various RMCs).

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